Hitching appliance.



H. B. SAWYER.

HITCHING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1914 1 M5,WQ Patented July 6, 1915.

HARRY IB. SAWYER, OF OGDEN, UTAH, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO F. W. BLAIR,OF OGDEN, UTAH, AND ONE-FIFTH TO DAVID ATHAY, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

HITCHING APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application filed July 3, 1914. Serial No. 848,836.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. SAWYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching Appliances; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in hitching devices, and inparticular to devices adapted to be attached to a vehicle wheel in suchmanner that a rope or strap can be run from my device to the check-rein,so that upon the startingof the horse and the consequent rotation of thewheel the horses head will be jerked backward, thereby stopping thehorse.

The main object in my invention is to pro vide a device that is simplein construction, easily attachable to the wheel of a wagon and accuratein operation.

Another object in my invention is to provide a device that willcompensate for any wear and tear of the parts that are in frictionalengagement with other parts. And still another object of my invention isto provide a device that will operate instantly upon a minimum degree ofmovement.

With these and other objects in view to be developed I shall now proceedto describe my invention in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich, a preferred form is shown, but I desire to be understood that Ido not wish to be limited to the form of structure shown, but claim allpossible modifications within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings, in which,

Figure 1, is a transverse sectional view of my device, and, Fig. 2, is asectional view along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, 1 is the hub of my device, composed of ametallic ring, having around the central portion of the peripherythereof, a number of indentations or recesses 2, forming therebetweenlugs 3. Mounted upon the periphery of my hub is a pair of collars 4 and5 of matching contour and adapted to be mounted upon the periphery ofthe ring 1 at the point where the indentations 2 and lugs 3 begin, asplainly shown as at 6 and 7 of Fig. 1. These collars are suitably spacedapart by means of a ring 8, preferably of wood, suitable bolts or othersuitable fastening device 9, transversely running through the collarsand wooden ring to attach them in proper posltlon.

At suitable intervals in the ring 8, are recesses 10 and indented slots11 and 12, said indented slots 11 and 12 being connected by a groove 13.Mounted in this groove is a metallic member 14, the ends of which, as at15 and 16, are bent to seat and play in the indentations 11 and 12, andthe part 14 being curved to snugly seat over the lugs 3, previouslydescribed. A spring 17 is mounted in the recess 10 to press the metallicmember 14 against the lugs 3, and consequently to retain the wooden ring8, and attached collars 4 and 5 away from the ring 1, therebycompensating for any play due to wear of frictional parts. Interposedbetween my recesses 10 are other recesses 18, said recesses running at atangent from the ring 1. Pivotally mounted within each of these recesses18 as at 19, is a dog 20, having a pointed end 21 adapted to engage inthe recesses 2 previously mentioned.

Outside of the ring 5, I mount a collar 22, retained in position bybolts 23, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. The function of this collar is toretain the collar 5 and attached parts against lateral play in onedirection. A second collar 24 is secured on the ring 1 on the oppositeside of the ring 4, by bolts 25, this collar holding the ring 4, andattached devices against lateral play in the opposite direction. Aplurality of slots 26 in wing 24 parallel to its periphery haverestricted portions 27, and enlarged portions 28, to receive bolts 29 toallow of adjustable movement therein, the shanks of the bolts 29 seatingin the restricted portions 27 and the heads 30 thereof playing in theenlarged portions 28, of the slots 26. A suitable collar or metallicring 31 is held upon the opposite end of the bolts 29 by nuts 32, thisarrangement enabling the device to be adjustably held upon the spokes ofa wheel around the'hub thereof. The peripheral portions of the rings 4and 5 are somewhat flared as at 33 and 34 and at suitable intervalsthrough the flared portion 34 are a plurality of apertures 35, throughwhich, by means of hooks 36, I attach the strap or rope 37 running tothe check-rein of the horse.

In operation, the device is attached to the hub of a Wheel beforemounting it upon the axle. To hold the horse, I mount the hook 36 in oneof the apertures 35, the rope 37 being connected at its Opposite end tothe check-rein of the horse. The instant the horse moves, the wagonwheel rotates and carries around the hitching device which rotation ofthe hitching device pulls backward on the strap or rope 37, therebyjerking the head of the horse backward, which will instantly bring thehorse to a halt, and will permit the horse to back without winding therope or strap around the ring 8. lVhen the horse moves forward, the ropeor strap, positioned between the spreading edges ofthe collars 4 and 5,is wound around the ring 8. This arrangement allows of instant action assoon as the dogs drop from the lugs 3, into the recesses 2, therebyallowing of but a minimum degree of movement, and my device is easilyassembled or demounted, and easily taken apart and repaired or partlyrenewed.

hat I claim as new and desire to claim by Letters Patent, is,

A hitching device comprising a metallic hub provided with alternatinglugs and recesses in a row around its periphery, a pair of rings securedupon the periphery upon opposite sides of the row of lugs and recesses,a pair of fiat circular collars mounted loosely around the hub, a ringbetween the collars rigidly secured thereto forming a rotatable ringaround the hub between the fixed rings, tangential pawls carried by therotatable ring and engaging in the recesses between the lugs, metallicmembers radially movable in the rotatable ring, springs located inradial recesses in said ring yieldingly pressing the metallic membersagainst the peripheral lugs, and means for securing the hub upon the hubof a wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY B. SAWYER.

WVitnesses:

PAUL M. LEE, HARRY A. BEAUVERD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C.

